Makati orders more earthquake drills

MANILA, Philippines - Mayor Jejomar Binay ordered Makati City’s education officials to prioritize holding earthquake drills in all city public schools as part of the intensified disaster risk reduction program implemented by the city government.

Binay, who chairs the Makati City Disaster Coordinating Council, has also ordered the council to immediately coordinate with private building owners and tenants, particularly those in the Central Business District, on the holding of earthquake drills and other measures to improve their readiness in case a major earthquake hits the city.

“In light of renewed concerns over the high probability of a major earthquake hitting Metro Manila anytime, we need to step up our capability-building efforts to lessen the damage to lives and properties that can be inflicted by such an occurrence,” he said.

Binay was referring to recent news reports on the projected impact on Metro Manila of an earthquake with a magnitude of seven or higher, which was presented by a senior United Nations official at the just-concluded Global Disaster Risk Reduction Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

The mayor said all 28 public elementary schools and 10 high schools of Makati must undergo earthquake drills as soon as possible. – Rhodina Villanueva